Having the right skills in the labour market is critically important to achieving economic growth in our area.

This means it is vital that we understand the skills that employers need both now and in the future, so that we can plan to meet this demand.

We also need to make sure that our plans take into account new opportunities and developments such as the prestigious MIRA Technology Park expansion which is set to create 2,000 additional jobs in the economy.

We have now completed a Skills Needs Assessment which helps to inform our future plans and strategies.